US air passenger cuffed over low-flying pants

A University of New Mexico football player was hauled off a US Airways flight last week after refusing to hitch up his sagging pants.

San Francisco native DeShon Marman, 20, hoped to fly from his home city to Phoenix with his kecks at half-mast, but cabin crew objected to his low flying. When he declined to pull up his trousers, the aircraft's captain called in cops who cuffed him for tresspassing.

Marman then added a charge of resisting arrest to his rap sheet when he allegedly got into a "fracas" with an officer in the airport terminal.

San Mateo County chief deputy district attorney Karen Guidotti explained to Reuters: "The attention was brought to him because his pants were so low that his genitals were almost showing."

US Airways spokesman Andrew Christie said: "US Airways does not have a specific dress code, but we do ask that our passengers dress in an appropriate manner to ensure the safety and comfort of all of our passengers."

Marman's arraignment has been scheduled for 18 July, and he secured his release from jail last Thursday by posting $10,000 bail.

US Airlines appears to have joined Fort Worth in the crusade against sagging. The Texan city recently banned the practice on its buses under the slogan: "Pull 'em up or find another ride."

Down in Memphis, though, they prefer more drastic measures. Last October, one citizen became so outraged by a couple of low-riders that, having failed to persuade them to dress in a manner appropriate for Tennessee, shot one in the backside with a semi-automatic pistol. ®